By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
Building on the success of last year’s event, the organizers of the Queen of Humanity, QoH Naija Pageant have announced that this year’s winners will coast home with ₦42 million prize money and a brand new car.
They stressed that the motive behind the pageant is to empower the girls-child.
The QoH Naija Pageant, initiated by the wife of the governor of Cross River State, Rev Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, is for the upliftment of women’s economic welfare, as consolation prizes shall also be splashed on other contestants who may had not won the star prize, but wins in other categories.
Unveiling the second edition of the beauty pageant event with the theme ‘Beauty and Brain,’ at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Calabar, the Cross River State capital Friday, the Senior Special Assistant Administration, who represented the governor’s wife, Dr. Comfort Oko, said the event is to provide opportunity for young girls to showcase not only their beauty but brains.
Also at the ceremony, the chairman of Cross River State Council of the NUJ, Archibong Bassey, expressed enthusiasm for the pageant and assured organizers of members’ support, urging the organizers to uphold high moral standards throughout the ceremony and beyond.
In his early remarks, the executive producer of the 2024 Queen of Humanity Naija Pageant, Mr. Michael Moses, acknowledged past issues from the first edition, which prompted a complete restructuring of the organizing team.
The executive producer averred that the winner will serve as the state’s humanitarian ambassador and an icon for humanity.
The pageant is open to young Nigerian girls aged 18 to 30 years, while interested contestants are encouraged to register at www.qohnaija.org after the payment of of ₦10,000 registration fee.
He stressed that the pageant, being a vision of the governor’s wife, includes a sustainability plan. The crowned queen would have an office in the governor’s wife’s office and will tour all the 18 local government areas of the state to engage with future council chairmen.
The organizers of the pageant averred that the event will hold on December 1st, with contestants spending almost a month in camp, filled with intensive activities that will closely evaluate their character, communication skills, and various virtues. The grand finale is billed for December 27, 2024, at the Calabar International Conference Centre, CICC.
Mr. Moses said, “This event prioritizes the girl-child, who deserves attention, support, and recognition as an essential part of humanity.”
